by Sara W.

Created on: June 25, 2010

How is it that something so small can cause so great an annoyance? Ants are one of the most common household pests, and often it feels like a battle of wits to get rid of the little beasts. When you've exhausted all your resources, there are still a few simple solutions to keep those ants at bay. And with a little bit of time and patience, you can turn an invasion into nothing more than a passing thought.

Clean Like Crazy!

The number one rule for those bothered by ant invasions is to never leave a single crumb or speck of food anywhere. After making a meal, or even just a snack, you must be diligent to wipe down all surfaces. This cleaning phase can seem maddening, but you will soon discover that due diligence really does pay off.

You must be conscious of everything you eat or drink, for even the residue of a sweet drink lingering on the inside of a drinking glass will attract the ants. If you enjoy a glass of sweet iced tea or soda, you must rinse the glass immediately upon finishing. And don't forget to do a clean sweep before bedtime. Sometimes it's easy to leave the remnants of a late night snack out on the coffee table. But if you don't want the ants to have swarmed it by morning, you've got to be one step ahead of them.

Keeping the dishes washed as often as possible, or at least thoroughly rinsed and placed into the dishwasher is also a huge must. Don't think the ants will have any more trouble finding your sink than they will your counter tops. Also, sweeping and vacuuming the kitchen floor on a regular basis is very important. This can especially be the case if you have a child that still eats in a highchair, for crumbs and food debris tend to gather beneath the chair.

If the ants have discovered your trash can, you may also need to take the trash out daily, or sometimes even multiple times daily, all depending on how many food scraps were placed into the trash. Once the ants do discover the garbage, it's a good idea to relocate it. An excellent solution is to save those plastic shopping bags and hang one of the handles from the pantry door knob. Tie the bag off and either remove it to the garage every evening after dinner, or walk it to the dumpster if you live in an apartment.

The Power of Vinegar

Another important strategy for warding off ants is to never use any kind of baiting material. All sorts of poisons can be purchased at your local drug store, but the poisons most often have sweet substances that actually attract the ants. The last thing

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